Pages

Sunday, 2 April 2017

Tredegar House

One of the things I love about the National Trust is that they promote conservation in action. This means that you still get to see the buildings that haven't been fully restored yet, or in the case of 17th Century Tredegar House, have a missing roof and are wrapped in plastic like a giant present! We unintentionally timed our visit to coincide with the first day the house was open after the winter, a free entry day, and the school's half-term break. You can imagine just how busy it was.

It took us a lap of the house to find the tea room; we'd been charity shopping and I was desperate for a cuppa. In the end my husband asked someone who led us through the house as it was quicker than going back around. Suitably refreshed, we tackled the house. Many of the rooms are panelled, with huge paintings in big gilt frames. It feels very grand indeed.

I love a dressing up box, and this one was particularly fun. I pushed the small children out of the way and grabbed a rather lovely picture hat.

An electric corset sounds dangerous, don't you think?!

It was a reasonably fine day so I wore my Heyday grey trousers, black and white brogues, and cosy layers for warmth. We had a lovely stroll around the parkland before heading off. It was a little muddy in places but it was nice to see the Spring flowers popping out.

Trousers: Heyday

Brogues: Clarks

Coat: F&F from car boot sale

Beret: Accessorize

Neckscarf: Chronically Vintage

Gloves: M&S, from charity shop

During the week, visitors are given the opportunity to climb the scaffolding and see all of the work being done to repair the winter water damage. A leaking roof meant 50 gallons of rainwater burst through the ceilings. We'll definitely pop back for a scaffold climb! It will be interesting to see how the work progresses over the next few months.

Do you mind visiting places when there's work in progress? Or do you prefer to wait until it's all finished and restored?

Oh crikey no to climbing scaffolding! I like the idea but not the practice... I'm kinda jealous you can throw on swing trousers and look amazing; they must be cosy as well as practical, which is what you need in this country. You were surely their best dressed visitor! Xx

What a grand looking house. I love the servants' bells (I always photograph them too) and the dressing up box. I would definitely have tried on that bonnet and hat too. with my vertigo, you would never get me to climb that scaffolding though. I'd rather try out the electric corset ;-) xxx

I love it when you get to see the restorations at first hand. Jon keeps saying we should hand our place over to the National Trust and get them to do ours.Tredegar looks fabulous, truly grand. The servants bells are wonderful as are those sumptuous gilt frames.Had to laugh at you elbowing the brats out of the way to get to the dressing up box, that's my kind of behaviour!Your outfit looks marvellously glam! xxx

Cute look! I love the wide legged trousers on you, and the brogues are a great touch, while still being fairly practical.I feel like in America there is no way that any place would allow, much less encourage, visitors to climb the scaffolding! I would totally be down to do it, though - it would be so cool to actually see the kind of work that goes into restoring a gorgeous old place like this.

I'm intrigued by the Cedar Room. Was it panelled in cedar wood? That'd be one way to deal with a moth problem - when the National Trust / English Heritage moth problem hit the news today, I thought, "Ah, at least it's not just me!"

Restoration/conservation is fascinating. Nothing lasts forever, but the process of trying to make things last as long as possible is interesting.